Australia vs England - The Ashes 2021/22
- Thread starter Richie
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Renegadesfan
Also known as Sooz
He's usually the other opening batsman with aaron finch
Renegadesfan
Also known as Sooz
Great win by the aussies
I think ever since Australia enforced the follow-on agaist India in Mumbai 20 years ago and lost, that was a big turning point for them and they've been somewhat gunshy of doing so ever since. I didn't have much of a problem batting again, puts the game right out of reach for England in that there would only be two results possible, an Australian win or a draw.
He's a great talent and his bowling has really come on in this series. I'd like to see his batting improve as he seems to have a bit of an issue of late knowing where his off stump is but if he can sort that out then he'll be a really good player for the side. His second innings was a good little comeback and hopefully he can continue that in Melbourne.
Starc would be the best day/night test bowler in the world and it was good to see him play the way he did in the second test. We know he does well in the day/night tests so the key will be the see if he can repeat this performance in Melbourne for the third test. Personally I think he bowled better in this game but the real test will be how he goes at the MCG.
So Australia go 2-0 up in the series with three tests to play. England fought well on the final day but had a bit too much to do in the end, those four wickets they lost at the end of day four hindered their chances of batting out the game.
Next up is the third test which is the Boxing Day test in Melbourne. Cummins should be back and Hazlewood should play too if he is fit. I imagine Richardson and Neser would make way if both are fit to play.
For England, Wood would have to come back in you'd think with his speed while one of Leach or Bess would be a chance to play also with England admitting they made a mistake in not playing a specialist spinner in Adelaide. Robinson might be the one to come out of the side if they do indeed decide to play a specialist spin bowler. The real interesting part will be if England make any changes to their batting, only two players (Malan and Root) are averaging over 40 while Woakes has their third best average with 26.25 as a bowling all-rounder. One of Zak Crawley or Dan Lawrence may come in you would suspect, perhaps even both players.
Next up is the third test which is the Boxing Day test in Melbourne. Cummins should be back and Hazlewood should play too if he is fit. I imagine Richardson and Neser would make way if both are fit to play.
For England, Wood would have to come back in you'd think with his speed while one of Leach or Bess would be a chance to play also with England admitting they made a mistake in not playing a specialist spinner in Adelaide. Robinson might be the one to come out of the side if they do indeed decide to play a specialist spin bowler. The real interesting part will be if England make any changes to their batting, only two players (Malan and Root) are averaging over 40 while Woakes has their third best average with 26.25 as a bowling all-rounder. One of Zak Crawley or Dan Lawrence may come in you would suspect, perhaps even both players.
Poms were outclassed by our Baggy Greens again. Not even close and we did it without our two best bowlers. That should send shock waves thru the ECB brains trust. Richardson has to remain in the squad surely as CA said rotation was likely with all five tests crammed into only six weeks. I'd be resting Starc until Hobart and playing Richardson. No more discussion about Hunt or Street as Usman will remain the sole reserve batsman. Hope we have a better deck at the MCG. There was little for the quicks in Adelaide.. some bounce but mostly lacked seam or swing.. specially the latter which you expect in the evening.
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The Poms are in dissaray.. batting and bowling. They will bring in a spinner so who goes if they also want the extra pace of Wood. Stokes has been off the boil with both bat and ball.. dare they rest (dump) him. I think Woakes will make way as he is batting better than he is bowling and the Poms can not afford to carry a frontline man. So Wood in for him.. Leach for Robinson or Stokes. The batting is worse than their bowling. Not sure either Crawley or Lawrence will do a better job than their current bats. Burns looks a walking LB with that bizarre trigger movement. So he is the only one I'd be moving on.
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Sure was Sooz.
I imagine Hazelwood and Cummins will be in for the Melbourne game if both are fit to play with Richardson and Neser to go out. Both may get an opportunity in the last game or two if the situation warrants them coming into the side again.
Harris will likely play the third test, depending on how he fares he may get another chance in the last two games. You'd think Khawaja would come into the side for him should he fail again in the next couple of games providing he plays both.
The MCG deck should provide more for the bowlers. Adelaide was flat again but it was good bowling for the most part by Australia which garnered the wickets they took helped by some ordinary batting.
Melbourne should be a more bowling friendly deck so Wood should come in as will one of Leach or Bess you would think. The question is who do they replace? Wood and one of the spinners could replace two of Broad, Woakes or Robinson. No Woakes lengthens their tail, he has the third best batting average of the side at the moment which weakens their batting.
I'd be surprised if Stokes is dropped, the only way he goes out is if he can't play through injury. He should play provided he is fit enough as he provides a fifth bowling option. I personally think he is batting a little too high and would be better suited at six.
As for the batting, Bairstow is also with the squad and could potentially come into the side as a specialist batter. There's also the options of Crawley or Lawrence as mentioned before. Certainly an interesting time for the England selectors over the next few days.
Buttler dropped two or was it three vital sitters last match.. took some good'uns too. Before his face saving last innings heroics in Adelaide I had him dropped so try him as a batsman only with Bairsow the keeper. He imo is more reliable keeper and his batting is more than handy. So which batsman/men make way. Crawley has been added to their 12 and is their reserve opener so eithrer Hameed or Burns to go. so looks as tho it is him. Dead set talk about going from bad to worse. Crawley averages a piddling @28 from his 15 Tests. I am keeping Hameed with the stumbling Burns getting the flick. This bloke is a walking LB.
Oh no dont drop this super hero. He was a virtual passenger in Adelaide until late in the game. Heck he is so overated with bat and ball and his X factor reputation only rides on Headingley 2019 and one or two other similar innings. He has only passed fifty 34 times from 134 innings. No way am I picking him as a stand alone bat or bowler.
There's not much alternative to Buttler aside from Bairstow so it'll be a case of a straight replacement or Bairstow coming in to play as a batter in my opinion, potentially in place of Ollie Pope. Seems as if Crawley will replace Hameed judging from the latest news while Wood could replace Woakes and Leach in for Broad.
Certainly some interesting decisions to be made over the next couple of days in time for the third test.
Stokes is certainly not good enough to play in the side on just one discipline. Personally I don't think he is 100% fit so that would be hampering him somewhat, England do need him to lift though in both departments to help shore up their side.
What Hameed goes and not Burns. Bewildering. Surely they wont drop Broad in probably his last Test series. What is all this hoo ha over Wood. He is their quickest.. certainly not their best bowler. He averaqes @33 career.
Renegadesfan
Also known as Sooz
Hazelwood is out with a side strain.
Renegadesfan
Also known as Sooz
As for the poms they need to blood some youngsters and move the veterans to the shorter versions of the game.
Hope Joe Root is ok after getting hit in the nuts twice in one day with a cricket ball
Hope Joe Root is ok after getting hit in the nuts twice in one day with a cricket ball
StreetNextTest
Member
How on earth does Harris keep his spot lol
What is this charity or something?
Worst opener we've had! At least Bancroft could catch!
What is this charity or something?
Worst opener we've had! At least Bancroft could catch!
Renegadesfan
Also known as Sooz
Bancroft had his contract terminated. Was the bloke who tampered with the ball.
Harris at best is a t20 opener.
Not a test opener.
He can practice playing like an aussie opener when he's playing at sheffield shield level.
Missed two of five matches now. Surely he'll be back for his home Test in Sydney.
They have tried that. Sibley, Crawley, Pope and Lawrence all under 25. Youth is not the answer. Selectors need to trawl county records for the most consistent bats over the past three years. Doubt the above four will be among them.